Companion Planting

Opposites sometimes attract. And it's true when considering what to plant in your garden, too. For instance, there's a fresh look in landscaping today that harkens back to the kitchen gardens of our colonial ancestors. Namely, consider planting vegetables and herbs right alongside flowers.

So-called "companion planting" is not a form of magic. It is simple and practical, making use of known factors with flowers and vegetables/herbs. In nature, shrubs growing around the trunk of a tree may protect the tree from animals. At the same time, the tree, because of the shade it provides, protects the shrubs from being overwhelmed by weeds.

With vegetables and flowers, such companion planting makes gardening more productive. Why just enjoy the beauty of flowers when you can eat your way through the garden? Consider, too, that certain flowers attract predatory insects that can eat pests. Vice versa, certain vegetables (garlic and onions come to mind), have such a pungent odor that they can help deter things like aphids from attacking roses and other plants.

The whole idea of adding variety to your garden with both flowers and vegetables intermixed underscores an important pest management technique. Simply put, plant diversity makes it harder for pests to take over; avoid monoculture.

I've been planting certain edible plants alongside my flowers for years. The deep green color and wrinkled leaves of parsley make practically any flower stand out more. The same goes with colorful veggies like red-leafed lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

While I've already mentioned mixing garlic and onions with roses, did you know that nasturtiums planted between rows of broccoli keeps aphids down and helps control harlequin bugs? Or that rosemary, sage or catmint planted between rows of cabbage keep away the bothersome and common white cabbage butterfly? Chives are a good companion to fruit trees and tomatoes. And tomatoes planted near asparagus should keep the asparagus beetle down. Other plants found repellent against a broad spectrum of insects are marigolds, asters, chrysanthemums, Pyrethrum daisy and such herbs as anise, coriander and basil.

Don't forget about edible flowers either. Nasturtiums, pansies and lemon gem marigolds add delightful color and tang to landscapes and salads alike. I always laugh when I remember what Ken Inouye, head landscape designer at Disneyland, told me years ago. He said they had to quit planting ornamental cabbage and kale in their beds because patrons kept picking off leaves to place in their hamburgers and sandwiches. Ornamental cabbage and kale appear like their edible counterparts, but they don't taste very good!

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